Resting state connectivity differences in eyes open versus eyes closed conditions

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) is widely used in diverse populations.
• Data collection typically occurs under eyes-closed (EC), eyes-open (EO), or eyes-fixated (EO-F) conditions.
• Prior research suggests condition-dependent variations in rs-fMRI data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare functional network connectivity (FNC) differences between EC and EO-F conditions using rs-fMRI.
• To investigate the influence of covariates (age, gender, social status) on FNC.
• To assess potential interactions between eye conditions and covariates.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a large rs-fMRI dataset collected under both EC and EO-F conditions.
• Group independent component analysis (ICA) to assess FNC.
• Statistical analysis to evaluate condition effects and covariate influences.

Main Results:

• Task condition significantly altered FNC across multiple networks.
• EO-F condition showed increased connectivity within and between visual networks.
• EC condition demonstrated heightened connectivity of auditory and sensorimotor networks.
• Covariate associations with FNC were significant only in the EO-F condition.
• No significant interaction effects were found between eye status and covariates.

Conclusions:

• Resting-state condition (eye status) is a critical factor influencing rs-fMRI findings.
• Condition-specific differences in FNC may limit the generalizability of clinical rs-fMRI results.
• Future research should carefully consider and control for resting-state conditions in rs-fMRI studies.